✨ Speech from the Throne at the State Opening of Parliament
5116 NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE, No. 193 12 DECEMBER 2008
New focus will be brought to rehabilitation within prisons, with enhanced provision of drug and alcohol services and the introduction of compulsory work programmes for prisoners.
Honourable members. My Government is also committed to improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the public health system.
It observes that in recent years a significant increase in public health spending has not been matched by improved or increased health services to New Zealanders.
My Government intends to reduce surgery waiting lists, to cut wasteful bureaucracy, and to address the health workforce crisis.
As highlighted in its agreement with United Future, my Government will make better use of the private sector to deliver public health services, including reducing elective surgery waiting lists.
It will also give health professionals a greater say in the running of the health system and it will require District Health Boards to work more collaboratively to improve patients’ care.
The Government’s welfare policies, like all its policies, will help people to help themselves. They will reflect its belief that paid work is the route to independence and well-being for most people, and that it is the best way to reduce child poverty.
In this area, as in all areas of social policy, my Government will establish new relationships with the non-government and voluntary groups that are so important to the functioning of a healthy society.
By working more closely with these groups and turbo-charging their efforts, my Government will tap into the resources, ideas and collective goodwill of New Zealand communities.
Honourable members. My Government is impatient to see Maori standing strong, economically independent and fulfilling the complete promise of their potential.
For New Zealand to move forward as a nation, the settlement of historical Treaty grievances will be vitally important.
My Government is committed to the expeditious completion of final, durable settlements of historical grievances. Accordingly it will devote fresh energy to this important area. This will be essential to reaching its medium-term goal of achieving just and durable settlement of all historical Treaty claims by 2014.
In addition to these ongoing settlement negotiations, and in accordance with the confidence and supply agreement with the Maori Party, my Government will undertake a review of the Seabed and Foreshore legislation to ascertain whether it adequately maintains and enhances mana whenua.
If repeal is necessary it will ensure there is appropriate protection in place to ensure all New Zealanders enjoy access to the foreshore and seabed, through existing and potentially new legislation.
Next Page →
NZ Gazette 2008, No 193
✨ LLM interpretation of page content
🏛️
Speech from the Throne at the State Opening of Parliament
(continued from previous page)
🏛️ Governance & Central AdministrationGovernor-General, Parliament, State Opening, Rehabilitation, Prison Services, Public Health, Health System, Welfare Policies, Social Policy, Treaty Grievances, Seabed and Foreshore Legislation